HD-Gentiles were grafted into the Jews-we are one.
Buggman-Not precisely. ....
indeed Gentiles who have put their trust in the Messiah are indeed grafted into Israel....
To put it yet another way, we have been adopted into God's family...
if you want to argue that because we are adopted into the father's household that we are part of Israel in a broad sense...
Only a Calvinist would understand that there is a hardening on the heart of Jews until the time of the Gentiles are complete. (I thought God wants all men saved.) But that's another story.
You said that it borders on blasphemy to suggest that the Jews are held in special esteem by God
I'm not trying to divert attention away from anything nor am I trying to melodramatic. I stand by what I stated. God shows no partiality and He is no respecter of person. (Acts 10:34)
Is the Jewish believer in the Messiah, whether he identifies himself as a mainline Christian or a Messianic Jew, an enemy to the Gospel because of Gentile inclusion (Rom. 11:28)?
I thought I answered that. Jew or Gentile-it makes no difference. If you want to go to the synagoue on Saturdays to worship, be my guest. If you want to give up pork or you want to circumcise yourself, have at it. You are free in Christ to do what you want to do. But if you think any of these works or actions are pleasing to God then you better stop and think again. What is worst is purporting that others should do them as something that is pleasing to God. A Christian rest upon the saving works of Christ-all of our actions are as filthy rags.
But if by the term you mean that the firstborn, all natural Israel, has been cast out of the house forever, and we, the adopted children, have replaced him--then you are dead wrong.
I didn't say that we replaced Israel. I said we are grafted in WITH Israel.
We have indeed been grafted into Israel, yes. I believe I said just that. However, that's not the same as replacing Israel. Again, the adoption of a child does not mean that the firstborn son has been replaced--it just means that the family is larger.
The difference between us is this: You claim that only those currently in the Father's household have any place in it. You keep claiming that the promises the Father made specifically to the firstborn now apply only to you, not to him. I believe the Father when He says He still loves the firstborn son and that He has a plan to bring the firstborn back home again after He is finished adopting all of the other children on the street.
Only a Calvinist would understand that there is a hardening on the heart of Jews until the time of the Gentiles are complete.
Oh, baloney. Not to the hardening, but to your typical "Only a Calvinist" boast.
I thought I answered that. Jew or Gentile-it makes no difference.
Simply repeating a non-argument does not make it more persuasive. Does or does not Sha'ul say that Israel, though currently an enemy of the Gospel, is still beloved and elect for the sakes of the fathers?